CORKY

I adopted JoJo on Sept 18th - he's a five pound apricot poodle - blind and deaf - estimated to be 12 or so.  His transportation was arranged right to my door in Provincetown and my friends promptly re-named him "Jaws."  It's not that his teeth are so sharp because he never broke any skin but everything that was under the skin.  He once bit me so badly, I had a lump on my arm the size of an egg for days.  I could only pick him up if I put a towel over him. 

But slowly things have improved and yesterday was the very best.  A wonderful break-thru.  Frosting (my Greyhound) and JoJo were at the dog run.  JoJo was sniffing around and then he barked and I went over to him and let him sniff my hand - which I have done hundreds of times - but this time his tail began to wag.  I did it again a few more times just to make sure it wasn't my imagination and each and every time when he sniffed me, he wagged his tail. Well, I can't tell you how happy I am about JoJo - he even licked my feet yesterday.  I often call him my "Helen Keller" and I was thinking last night about the Miracle Worker when Helen makes the connection that words mean things and my "Helen Keller" finally made the connection that all the kisses and petting and cuddling and treats means LOVE!!!!!!  I swear it's like it finally clicked in his brain because he is a different dog.  I honestly think this dog never had love in his life before.

Marj

June 9, 2002
JoJo is close to my chest as I write this.  He is dying.  He is not in pain. I knew this past week that he was failing and there was nothing to be done. He had a very good 1 year and 9 months.  Thank you for helping to bring him into my life.

Love,
Marj

Marge gave an old, blind, frightened, tiny dog a home and all the love possible giving him a happy life with her.  JoJo found peace and love here on earth after being a BYB dog for most of his life.  He will be waiting for her at Rainbow Bridge where he is whole, healthy, and young; playing with the Bridge Kids until he is reunited with his human Mom, Marge. 

June 10, 2002
JoJo died last night in the arms of his dedicated "Mom," Marge.  She said, "I was holding him and I honestly don't know when he passed.  He just drifted away so peacefully."  In the daylight, Irving, her rescued Greyhound puppy, washed JoJo's face then they buried JoJo in the sand dunes he loved so much. 

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Here is a  picture of our new family member Buster T. It was love at first sight, we knew we had to have him. The T stands for Tripod as Buster only has three legs. Interestingly, he nor anyone else can tell as there is NOTHING this guy can't do. His favorite game is soccer and he loves riding on the back of the bicycle in the seat we made for him. He loves to camp in our motor home and is as close to perfect as any friend could be. He is loving, fun and an excellent listener. Not much of a watchdog though as he just wants to be your friend. He loves everybody!!!!  And we sure love him.

                                      Success from Indiana

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Hogan

I wanted to let you know how great Hogan ( a.k.a. Shelton) is doing. We named him after the golfer Ben Hogan who conquered his adversity and came back a champion - I should have named him Tigger he is so bouncy.

Well, we have mastered the leash finally, and believe it or not he can just about let me know when he wants out, he will run back and forth from the door to me -- as soon as I say outside he starts bouncing. He loves riding in the car and goes everywhere with me. l have only noticed he gets upset when he can't see someone or another dog because he is turned the wrong. If I turn him on his good side he is fine.   We are going to start obedience classes on the 21st so these should help tremendously. He's a great little boy and you were right about his eye -- you certainly can't tell he only has one.

Dillon( my Son) says Hogan is his responsibility and he takes him for walks on the weekends and at night. It's teaching Dillon a lot about how to take care of animals. Hogan loves taking Dill's toys out of his room and
hiding them with his toys, and "Socks -- He Loves Socks". He will take them right off your feet.  I haven't been able to find a matching pair of socks for a couple day's now. The cat just loves him - they take their naps together, they use the scratching post together, more like a tug of war game. They have become great friends.

I could go on forever I just love him so much. I am so thankful that things worked out the way they did and we were able to adopt the sweetest little guy who has done nothing but steal ours hearts ever since we saw him. No pictures developed yet but I should have them in a couple of day's and I will send one.

With Much Love and Puppy Kisses,

Anita, Dillon, Duane, And Hogan

8/07/01 Hogan wanted to write his own letter:

Hi, I just wanted to let you know how happy I am with my new family...... My Mom (Anita) takes me everywhere and I love to ride in the car She has this little bear that I love to take off the window and play with.. I almost have the potty training down I go to the door and bark and they all know I have to go.. We go to the park almost every night and my brother Dillon even takes me for walks without Mom and Dad sometimes start
obedience classes in the next couple of weeks( I don't know if I'm gonna like this ) I been working on some commands and I know how to sit and lay isn't that enough!!! Dillon and I are best friends we have so much fun running back and forth through the house.. I have this little ritual now Mom says it's my race track....I go around the couch, down the hall, around again through the chairs around the table and I start all over again..... I love it!!!!! Dillon sometimes helps by commentating the race off the table on the back of the couch and jumping off and on it. That gets me really riled up. Mom usually just watches us and laughs unless we start getting a little too rowdy (usually I am barking and he is screaming) then we have to stop and calm down. Oh and I have lots of doggie friends. Gracie (another rescue pooch) is my favorite I get so excited when she is outside we play for a long time and My GiGi has two poodles and I love to pick on them.  Mom takes me to Feeders Supply once a week and I usually spend time socializing with my new friends while mommy gets all of our supplies, and the park is puppy heaven - we walk on the track and stop to say hi to all the other doggies and when we are done mom lets me play with them while we are cooling down before we go home... All and All  I am so lucky to have found parents and a brother that love me so much. Thanks Aunt Jackie for finding them for me. I am very happy and completely spoiled I couldn't ask for anything more.. Mom says to tell you that the pictures are on the way. I wouldn't be still for the last ones so she had to do them over.
Well I will write again soon..

Puppy Hugs and Kisses, Hogan

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Missy with her new Daddy, Tom

These are actual excerpts of e-mails from Tom Kenyon who adopted Missy, a 10 year old chubby Poodle. He flew to Nashville, TN airport from Vermont to pick her up on New Years eve day. Due to bad weather on the east coast, they had to remain in Nashville overnight and fly out the next day.  Tom and Missy had quite an adventure just getting home to Vermont!

~Missy and I went up to my brother's and sister-in-law and the two dogs get along just great.  We went in my truck...too cold outside to walk. I was pleased when I got home that my brother had gotten out my snow blower and cleared the two driveways.  They even had the wood furnace going. Very nice of them both.  ...Showed her off to a few friends and they just love her. Even had prayers for me and her in church that we would get back to Vermont ok. Right now she is sacked out under the desk.   She has explored the house and has found the front door to the house where a little cool air always comes in...she loves it there. Can't thank you both enough for all you have done to unite Missy and me.

~It has been a cold day here.  Missy went over to the church with me this morning and we cleaned, vacuumed, and washed the floors.   Anyways, while I worked Missy crashed on my coat and slept the entire time. She was just terrific on the flights.  Just fell asleep both times. Oh, you know that funny little dance she does...I can't figure out each time if she needs to go out, eat, wants water, or wants to play.

~Missy seems bashful of stairs ...I think she is afraid she will slip on the carpet. We  have had a busy day.  Went up and played cards with the family late this afternoon.  Missy had to go out and was enjoying running the paths in the snow.  She tried to cut crosslots to get back to the house...all you could see was her head and back in the snow...had to go rescue her.  It was so funny.

~She likes to sit in my lap and watch when we play cards. She dances around and twirls when I get home.  I think she may have lost part of a pound but when the weather gets better I'll exercise her more to get the weight off her.

All well here. Sister in law has fallen in love with the dog.

--Tom

Missy lived and loved for two years with Tom.   He was as devoted to her as she was to him.  He frequently took her to work with him.  Often, she would visit some of the university classes and became known for her exemplary decorum.  Missy also accompanied Tom to the nursing home, visiting residents, brightening their days.  We join Tom and everyone in his life and the small town in Vermont that loved this girl in their grief with the passing of Missy.  

Dec, 19 2002
Sad news. Missy took sick on Thanksgiving day. She was so sick for two days. She has been so weak since then. It just strained her heart so much. Vet thought it caused further heart problems. It left her so weak she couldn't even walk hardly. She would just sit on her butt and look around. I would carry her outside to go, all around the house, up and down the stairs to bed, she never complained. She loved to ride in the car. But she seemed happy and she loved going to work every day with me and just taking it easy on the office couch.

She went Christmas caroling for hours on Sunday with our church group. She rode in the back seat of my Jimmy and had a blast with all the women folk giving her lots of attention.

Woke up Wednesday morning (Dec. 18) at around 5:00 a.m. "out of it." The vet had her on medication to assist the heart and fluid control. Just had to face the fact she was not going to get better, only worse. Got up and we sat in our favorite easy chair, I watched the news, while she had a good nap in my lap. Vet was nice and saw us at 8:30. I just drove up with Missy on her blanket. He said it was time.

Her grave is out back by my garden. I was out there sobbing while digging the grave at 9. We are all going to miss her so very, very much. Even the vet and his office crew was having a tough time. They loved her too.

I want to thank you for bringing so much love to this family and this community for the past two years. We all have such great memories. Like when she would want a snack if you said "paw" she would raise her left front paw...or if you asked her...Go riddie?...how her short little tail would wag back and forth with excitement. Sometimes she would out of the blue just look at you, you'd pick her up and she would give you a long lap on the face, and how her eyes would sparkle.

Thanks again.

Tom

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Sophie Mae Westie

HI Grandma Jackie! Its me, Mae - now they call me Sophie Mae.  I'm growing like a weed and wanted to stop for a moment and tell you how I'm doing.  GREAT!  I have four 'human' sisters and brothers and one old Golden Retriever brother.  He is not much fun, but I still try to get him to play... it usually doesn't work too well.  I do have LOTS of cousins.... there is Fancy and Gus, they are Border Collies.  Harley, he is a Pyrenees Mix puppy, Luka, she is a Malamute puppy who I play with ALLLLL the time and she is a gadzillion times bigger than me and she is YOUNGER!!!  WOW!!  I love to play at Chewy, Riley and Gracie's house.  Gracie is a Westie just like me and she lives with two Yorkies.... she says her older brother Chewy is kind of a snob, but since I don't know what that means, I just smile and keep playing.  I can do that bestest of all.   At night time I run in circles and all around the house like a race car.  My mom and dad laugh and say I'm losing my mind!  hehehe

As for my new mom and dad... well, I really, really love them to pieces... sometimes literally - oops .. but my mom says its okay cuz I'm a baby.... she holds me all the time and rubs my belly cuz it feels like velvet, whatever that is... but she seems to like it.   It makes her smile.  Me too! I'm still working on going pee and poop outside, but sometimes I get confused and forget where the door is.... its a really big house and when I do remember to go to the door, well, sometimes I can't hold it long enough for someone to open it.  My Mom put bells on it and I guess I'm suppose to ring them... we'll see.  Sometimes I remember and other times they are just fun to ring....

Well, I do want to tell you that I am grateful for all the care you and Grandpa gave me.   My mom said that I was pretty sick and you loved me back to health and then loved me enough to let me go live with my new mom and dad.  Thanks Grandma and Grandpa... I'm happy and hope to grow into a beautiful Westie that will make you proud!  Mom says it takes special people to do what you do, and that she will never, ever forget you!

Love you always!
Yours forever,
Sophie 'Mae Westie' of Belmont Lane

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Winston

Thanks for letting us adopt Winston.   He is good. He loves riding in the car, ready to go when we head for the door, and jumps right in as soon as the door is open.  He lays still and sleeps the whole time.  We take him everywhere, because he is so good to lay and be good.  He eats good and loves those bones. He sleeps on the bottom part of the coffee table. I have taken pictures of Winston, and will send one soon. Thanks again for Winston. We really love him, and he is already spoiled. 

JoAnn